Rotatable window



Nov. 22, 1927.

c. w. oLsoN ROTATABLE WINDOW TroRNEYs' y Paiente'dpNpv. .22,1492?.A i n n y UNITED .STATES PATENT oFFICE. A

CARL w. oLsoN, ori/IINNEAIOLIS, MINNnsoTAfAssIGNoa To AMERICAN SAFETY EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A oonronATIoNV or DELAWARE.

RQTATABIQE wINDoW.

Application led February`23, 1926. Serial No. 89,982. i

An object of this invention is to providel a rotatable window particularly adapted for use inconnection with the usual windshield of an automobile or other vehicle, to prevent atmospheric elements and othermaterials from accumulatingl upon Y a portion thereof, thereby maintaining a clear and unobstructed Vvision through such portion regardless of weather conditions.

Features of the invention aregto provide such a-device of comparativelylight weight cross-section which will not impair or interfere with the drivers vision, when the device is left permanently mounted uponthe vehicle and atmospheric conditions are clear; mounting the driving member at an angle relative Yto the'transparent disc, and in such a manner as to have its outer face engage the adjacent outer face of the disc and not the peripheral edge thereof, thereby assuring' better frictional drivingengagement between member and disc, and also overcoming disadvantages resultant from lack of circular uniformity in cuttingy the glass disc; loosely mounting the driving member upon the motor shaft and yieldably securing it thereto to minimize strains caused by sudden starting torque; to demountably and adjustably mount the motor or driving means upon the supporting kframe so that it may readily and quickly be removed for repairs or other` purposes, and also whereby the angular driving engagement of the driving member withthe rotatable disc may be relatively adjusted to obtain the desired degrec of frictional driving engagement between member and disc; and to provide a clear-vision rotatable Window ofl simple and inexpensive construction which may be manufactured ata .minimum cost, and which may also be quickly'mounted upon or -attached to the windshield of ai vehicle;

Y Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings'and will be pointed out ,in the annexed claims.

-In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out thevarious objects of the invention, but

it is to be understood that the invention is not-.confined to the' exact features shown,

as various changes may be made within the scope of vthe-claims which follow.

f In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of they `Invention asmounted upon the windshield of a vehicle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged The novel device featured in this invention y comprises a ring-like frame 4 having anv detail sectionalV view showing the angular position of the dr1v1ng member with respect to the rotatableV annulargroove fprovided in one side there-,

of adapted to receive a flexible gasket G' adaptedto be pressed against the windshield 7 when the device, as a wl1ole,is'mountedk thereon as shownin Figures 1y and 3. Lugs 8 are provided on the ,upper portion ofthe frame 4 andl have threaded apertures for receiving screws 9 adapted tobe terminally engaged with the frame 11 of the windshield, when the device is mounted thereon as shown in Figure 1.

A stud 12 has one end secured to the flanged portion 13 between the lugs 8. This stud is adapted to be received in an aperture provided in the frame 11 of the windshield, 'and-has' its opposite end threaded to re-V ceive awing nut 14 for securing or clamping the device to the windshield. The stud 12 is preferably located at a lowerlevel than the screws 9, as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, thereby causing the circular frame4 to be drawn or clamped against the windshield 7 when the Wingnut 14 is tightened. The screws'9 'are'adapted to bear against the frame 11 of the windshield and afford a -means for adjusting the upper end of the circular frame 4 so as to cause the flexible gasket 6 to bearr against the windshield its entire circumference. The device may be quickly and conveniently demounted fromV the windshield by simply unscrewing the wing nut 14 and vlifting' the frame 4 therefrom.

A bracket 15 is preferably secured to the circular frame 4 by means of screws 16. This bracket overhangs a portion of the eentral opening in the frame 4, and provides means for supporting a driving device such as the motor 17 shown in Figure 1. A depending arm 18 isv provided on the bracket 15 and has a hub 19 axially aligned with the central opening in the frame 4 as shown. A stud 21is rotatably and demountably mount ed in the hub 19 upon suitable. anti-friction bearings 22 and 23. Upon this stud is mounted a transparent disc 24 which disc is secured thereto by means of threaded washers 25. The diameter of the disc 24 is such as to cover the central opening in the frame 4. An inwardly extending annular ange 2G is integrally formed upon the frame 4 and functions to provide an annular recess 27 adapted to loosely receive the marginal edge of ythe disc. (See Figure 1.) llhe depthof the annular recess 27 and also the thickness of the disc 24 are such that when the disc is mounted as shown in Figure 1, the outer edge 28 of the frame4 will be below the plane of the outer surface of the disc 24, thereby allowing foreign material engaging the disc to be centrifugally thrown therefrom.

The means provided for rotating the transparent disc 24 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. A small electric motor 17 having oppositely extending lugs 29 and 31 formed on the casing thereof, lis demountably secured to the upper .circular portion 32 ofthe bracket 15 by such means as screws 33 and 34.v The lower screw 33 is received in a threaded socket 35 provided in the central portion of the bracket, while the upper screw 34 is adjustably mounted in the threaded socket 36 provided in a lug 37 integrally formed with the portion 32 of the bracket 15. An adjusting screw 38 is also mounted in the lug 29 to terminally engage the lug 37 to relatively adjust the motor and its driving element relative to the disc 24. Thecircular portion 32 of the bracket 13 is preferablyk disposed at an incline relative to the annular recess 27, the purpose of which will be end secured to the hub 44 of the driving member 39. As a result of the circular po-rtion 32 ofthe bracket 15 being inclined as above described, the driving member' 39, when the motor 17 is mounted upon the bracket 15, will be a'ngularly disposed relative to the outer face of the transparentdisc `24 as shown in Figures 1 and2." The adjusting screw 38 in the upper lug 29 of the motor housingv affords means whereby the driving member 39 of the motor maybe moved to or from the outer face of the disc 24 for the purpose of varying the frietional driving engagement between (lise and member. p

When the motor 17 is not functioning or is at rest, the driving member 39 will be contracted and will be out vof engagement with the adjacent outer face 24 as shown in Figure 1. As soon, however, as current is supplied to the motor 17, the member 39 will commence to rotate and will be radially expanded by centrifugal force until it engages the adjacent face of the disc as shown in Figure 2. vWhen thev member 39 thus engages the disc 24, a rotary movement will be imparted thereto which will .gradually be accelerated until maximum speed is reached.

Bythe employment of the torsion' spring 43 operatively connecting the driving rmember 39 with the motorshaft 42, all sudden torque strains will be substantially eliminated from themotor shaft 42.' Also by mounting the driving member 39 so as to engage the outer face of the disc 24 as shown in Figure 2, all disadvantages resultant from lack of circular uniformity m cutting the disc will be overcome. lf desired, the outer marginal edge ofl vice which, if desired., may be left perf' manen'tly mounted upon the windshield of the vehicle. The device is mounted upon the outside of the windshield so that foreign material such as snow, sleet, rain, etc. engaging therewith will be cen-trifugally thrown therefrom, thereby maintaining a clear vision for the driver of the vehicle through that portion of the windshield ad` jacent the disc 24. It will also be noted by reference to Figure 1, that the dise is spaced from the windshield 7, kthereby providing substantially a dead air space functioning as a means'to prevent the accumulation of frost upon the windshield, resulting from different.

temperatures between the exterior and interior of theI vehicle. An added advantage is also obtained by inounti-ngthe motor 17 at an incline with respect to the vertical plane 1,649,850 f n v i g of the transparentdisc 24, inl that shocks and" jolts transmitted to the windshield, as a re sult ot the vehicle wheels-engaging bumps in the roadwayfwill 'be transmitted lto the bearings of the motor atanacute angle and notat right angles thereto, thus lminimizing strains on the bearings.

l claim as my invention: 1 i 'Y *i l, A device of the class described, including arotatably' mounted disc o'i'jtransparent material, a driving element for-:the 'disc rotatably mounted adjacentV the periphery thereof, and said disc-driving element being formed of expandible material whereby,v

upon rotation of the element, it will expand radially and engage the face otthedisc and gradually accelerate said discthereby mini-El mizing the starting torque'upon the driving means. c

2. A device of the 'class described, com.-Y

prising in combination, a circular frame of comparatively small cross section,.a transparent disc rotatably mounted therein,l a.

drivingdevice also mounted upon said frame and'having a driving element engageable with said disc to rotate it, the axis of said driving element beingv arranged at an in- Cline with respect to the axisof said disc whereby, upon actuation of said driving device, a portion'of theface of ,said driving n element will be moved into t'rictionall driving engagement with the face of said disc.

v3. A device or" the class describedcom risinfr in combination` a frame a transparent' 'disc rotatably mounted therein,A a disc-driving device also mounted upon said frame and having a driving element adapted toengage said disc adjacent its periphery,

said driving'element having a yieldable connection with said driving` device. kwhereby startingtorquev strains uponrsaid driving device will be minimized.

4l. A device of the class 'described comprising in combination, awfram-e havingineans for securing itto a stationary window.- a transparent disc rotatably mounted in said frame. an electric motor also mounted upon A A5. The combination with a vehicle wind-H shield, of a frame having a central aperture therein. a bearing axially disposed upon said frame and secured thereto, a stud rotatably mounted in said bearing, a transparent disc demountably secured to one end of said stud and rotatable therewith, an electric motor :tor driving said disc, the axis of said motor being arranged at an incline with respect to the 'axisof said disc, a' driving member, of. expandible materiaL-mounte'd upon the sha'lt of said motor and adapted-for relative movementthereon against the tension of a spring` and said drivingmember normallv being out of frictional'engagement with said disc, but

adapted uponactuationot said motor,` to 'radially expand and engage said disc. to gradually accelerate'it to full speed.

, 6. The combination with a vehicle windshield, oft circular frame having a central aperture therein, clamp-ing means for adjustably and abuttingly securing said frame to .said windshield; an yannularrecess in the outer` side ot' saidfframe, an arm-'secured to said ,frame and overhanging said centraljaperture, a-studrotatably mounted in said arm. i atransparent disc terminally` secured to said stud and loosely vdisposed within said annular recess, adriv'ing device for said disc `adjustably and demountably secured to said frame, the drive shaft of'said driving device being .arranged at an incline relative to the axis of said disc, a disc-like driving member of expandible material looselyv mounted upon said drive shaft and havingaV yieldabledriving connection therewith, andsaid driving member lbeing disposed sothat' a portion of its outerface will frictionally engage the adjacent .faceof said disc adjacent its periphery therebyy gradually accelerating the rota tion of saiddisc without exerting unnecessary torque strains upon said driving means.

7 A vwindshield comprisingr a-fraine having a window pane, an annulus having one side sealingly engaged with the 'pane aty the outerside, said annulus suspendingly connected by its top only to ,the frame, a skeleton frame connected to and disposed entirely andvwell above thecenter of the annulus and hlavingfai narrow ,extension reaching downwardly yto the center of the annulus.y and a't-ransparent disk rotatably supported only bythe extension'and arranged adjacent tlielopen s idt of" said annulus.

-8'. A windshield comprising aframe having'a `window pane, an vannulus khaving one side -sealingly engaged withl the pane att-he outerside,` said annulus suspendingly connected by its top only to the frame, a skeleton frame connected to and disposed entirely and well above the center of the'annulus and having a narrow extension reaching downwardly to the center of the annulus and aV transparent disk rotatably supported only by the extension and arranged adjacent the open side of said annulus, and a motor swingingly mounted on said skeleton frame at its uppermost portion, and having aj driving element arranged to drive the transparent disk, and means for adjusting the motor toward and away from the skeleton frame.

. 9.*r In combination with a windshield, an annulus suspendingly connected only by its top to the top frame portion 'of the. wind# shield, said annulus engaging the iront face of the shield, means above the point, of attachment of the annulus to operate the annulus as a'lever about the point of attachment as a iulcrum to forcibly sealingl-y engag-e its inner face against the shield, a frame arranged entirely above the `central portion of the yannulus at the front thereof and having la narrow downward extension, a transparent disk rotatably supported at the lower extremity of the extension and arranged adjacent the front side ofthe an? nulus to prevent entrance of water but to permit circulation of air within the annulus.

l0. In `combination with a windshield, an annulus .su-spendingly connected only by its top to the top frame portion of the windshield, said annulus engaging the iront face ot' the shield, means above the point of attachment of the annulus to operate the annulus as a lever about the point of attachment as a ulcrum, to forcibly sealingly engage its innerl tace against the shield, a frame arranged entirely above the `cent1-'a1 portion of the annulus at the 'lront thereof and having a narrow downward extension, a transparent disk rotatably vlsupported at the lower extremity ot the extensionA and are 'ranged adjacent the front side of the annulus to prevent entrance of water but to permit circulation of air within the annulus, and a driving mechanism swingingly attached to the frame and including a motor and a frioo tion element operable by the motor shaft, to rotate the disk, the motor being arranged so that its weight tends to force the annulus against the window.

l1. In combination 4with a windshield, an annulus suspendinglyconnected tothe top frame portion of lthe wind-shield, means above the point oi' attachment of the annulus to operate the annulus as a lever about the point of attachment as a itulcrum to engage its inner face against the shield, a skeleton frame arranged entirely above the central portion of the annulus at the front thereof and having a narrow downward extension,

a transparent disk .rotatably :supported at the lower ,extremity .of the extension and arranged adjacent the ront side of the annulus to prevent entrance of water but vto permit circulation of airvwithin the annulus, and a driving ,mechanism arranged at the top of the frame and including a `motor and a friction element operable by .the v.motor shaft, to rotatel the disk, the weight of the motor tending to force the annulus against the window, and the motor being swingingl'y mounted upon the skeleton frame, and have ing means'for adjustably swinging the motor to obtain proper vdriving relation with the disk. Y

l2. In combination with a vehicle windshield of an annulus :connected to and .suspended from the top ofthe shield, -and. means above the point of attachment to engage .the frame oi' the shield :to cause the inner surface of :the annulus to firmly engage against the glass, a skeleton frame attached to' the annulus, well and only abovev vits horizontal center, and a transparent disk rotatably supported by the frame and closing the outer side oi the diskto lthe entrance of moisture but allowing circulation of air between said disk and the interior of said annulus.

13. In combination with a vehicle windshield of an annulus suspendingly attached from the top of the windshield and engag4 ing its outer surface, av skeleton :trame suspendingly attached to the kfirst mentioned trame and disposed only at the uppervportion oi said frame, -a transparent disk r0 tatably supported by the skeleton frame to close 4the annulus against theentrance of moisture butto allow circulation of air within the annulus around the fdisk, a motor mounted on said skeleton frame and having a driving element, traversing the frame and arranged .to ,engage the transparent disk upon its outer surface kadj acent its periphery, and means for adjusting the motor toward and'away from vits supporting frame.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of February, 1926,-

. CARL W. OLSON. 

